Authors : Mohammad J. Mehdipour-Moghaddam , Majid Bouzari and Giti Emtiazi
Abstract: Rhizobia are one of the most important nitrogen fixing bacteria which interact specifically with legume species and induce formation of root nodules. Selective elimination of rhizobia is induced by rhizobiophages in soil. Bacteriophages can also be used for phage typing in epidemiological studies. Rhizobia were isolated from root nodules of Cicer arietinum L., Phaseolus vulgaris L. and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. plants grown in Jir-Gavabar of Roudsar and 3 areas of Isfahan. Four rhizobiophages were isolated from the same soils and purified. Morphology of the phages were studied by electron microscopy. Based on morphological features, the phages appear to be members of Myoviridae, Siphoviridae and Microviridae families. It was found for the first time that phages rather than siphoviridae are also able to infect Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae ( Cicer arietinum L.).
Mohammad J. Mehdipour-Moghaddam , Majid Bouzari and Giti Emtiazi , 2008. Isolation and Identification of Rhizobium Bacteriophages in Guilan and Isfahan Provinces, Iran. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 3: 1097-1101.